This is the seventh in a 13-part series examining key questions as team training camps get closer. Today’s camp question: Can anyone slow down the Denver Broncos’ offense now? Tuesday's camp question: Do the Washington Redskins have bigger worries than RG3’s health?

Wes Welker is living the good life as an NFL wide receiver. Preparing for his first season with the Broncos, he’s part of an unfamiliar orchestra, but it helps he has a similar conductor to the one he had in New England.

Few Pro Bowl wideouts go from one future Hall of Fame quarterback to another, but that what Welker’s done, making a lateral move from Tom Brady to Peyton Manning this offseason.

"It's hard to say something different about them,” Welker said. “It's like a Michelangelo or a Picasso. They are both at very good at what they do in a little different ways. They both lead by holding everyone accountable when going up and down the field."

Just like it is for Brady, time is starting to run out on Manning winning another Super Bowl. When the Patriots balked at paying Welker, it only made sense the Broncos would be first in line to take him away.

It’s a different situation from what the Broncos did a year ago, as getting Manning to be their starting quarterback was a night-and-day difference from the non-existent passing game they had with Tim Tebow. If Manning’s first season in Denver felt like he was driving a Ferrari, consider picking up Welker as adding the spoiler.

The Broncos would have returned a most explosive passing game without Welker. Manning has helped turn Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker into the league’s best young wideout duo. They made both the big plays and tough catches, re-creating what Manning once had with Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne in Indianapolis.

With his history, however, Manning is off the charts with a reliable No. 3. That used to be Dallas Clark or a younger Brandon Stokley. In Denver last season, he made do with Clark’s old Colts backup, Jacob Tamme and an older Stokley.

As good as Clark was for a long time, Manning has never had a slot option as good as Welker. Looking at what the Patriots’ receiving corps looks like now following the developments of Brandon Lloyd, Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski, Welker also chose the supporting cast to better serve him.

It’s weird to think of Welker as the Broncos third option after he caught 118 passes for the Patriots. But in the mix with Thomas (94 catches) and Decker (85), that’s what he has the luxury of being.

"It's been made easier by Peyton, the coaching staff and the players we have around me,” Welker said of his natural transition with the Broncos. “It's gone pretty smooth; even a little better than I expected."

Manning was very good in his comeback season. It paled only to his brilliant 2004 season with the Colts, when he threw for a then-record 49 touchdown passes—later surpassed by Brady while working with Welker and others in 2007.

As efficient and big-play oriented as Manning went back to being, the season was still met with playoff disappointment, one and done against Baltimore with a shaky performance. Manning still has that big arm, but at 37, he’s not immune to it wearing down.

Manning can gun-sling, but his offenses have been their best when methodically marching downfield. Broncos’ opponents had a glimmer of hope last season that if they could take away Thomas and Decker from home runs, they could slow down Manning.

That’s not the case anymore. Welker’s presence will make more defenses think inside-out. Welker is a premier route runner, and Thomas and Decker can still improve in that area.

Complicating the matchup problems the Broncos create is the fact they also upgraded their running game with the fresh legs of rookie Montee Ball in the backfield. Willis McGahee, now a former Bronco, was banged up and couldn’t stay on the field in 2011 form, and Knowshon Moreno put up some numbers down the stretch more from volume than true effectiveness.

There was one thing that stood out about Ball at Wisconsin. He scored a lot. He did it without much flash as a decisive inside runner. That’s the exact kind of runner who can take best advantage of the favorable fronts the threat of Manning causes.

We’ve seen this kind of team around Manning before with the Colts, and we know how good the results were. Training camp will just be the set-up for the much-anticipated, horse-powered sequel.